New legislation in New Hampshire will guarantee the right of nursing mothers to an unpaid break of 30 minutes to pump for every three hours of work beginning July 1, 2025.
Paid Leave Oregon Benefits Available Starting Sept. 3, 2023
More than four years since the passage of Oregon’s Paid Family Medical Leave Act into law, paid leave benefits will finally be available to Oregon employees starting Sept. 3, 2023.
EEOC’s Proposed Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Regulations
On Aug. 11, 2023, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) formally published proposed regulations to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA).
EEOC Issues Proposed Regulations to Implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued proposed regulations (NPRM) to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA).
Louisiana Law Requires Employers to Give Time Off for Genetic Testing and Cancer Screening
A new Louisiana law goes into effect on Aug. 1, 2023 requiring employers to provide time off from work for genetic testing and cancer screening.
Maine Enacts New Paid Family and Medical Leave Act
Beginning May 1, 2026, Maine’s new paid family leave law will allow Maine employees up to 12 weeks of family and medical leave benefits over a one-year period.
Changes to Paid Sick Leave and Supplemental Public Health Emergency Leave for Colorado Employees
Starting on Aug. 7, 2023, Colorado employees will be able to use paid sick leave for additional reasons under the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA). Governor Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 23-017 into law on June 2, 2023, and it is expected to become effective on Aug. 7, 2023.
Connecticut Expands Permitted Uses of Paid Sick Leave for Service Workers
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has signed a new law that will expand the circumstances in which service workers in Connecticut can use state-mandated paid sick leave. The new law goes into effect Oct. 1, 2023.
Florida’s Latest Legislation in Wake of COVID-19: What Employers Need to Know
New Florida legislation seeks to protect individuals from discrimination “based on health care choices” and bars COVID-19 mandates. The new law took effect on June 1, 2023.
Leave Law Updates for Oregon Employers
In anticipation of Paid Leave Oregon, a new paid family leave benefit for Oregon employees, the Oregon legislature recently passed a bill that creates new entitlements for Oregon employees and aligns existing law with the forthcoming paid leave benefit.
Washington State Provides Employers Access to Paid Family and Medical Leave Claim Data
Signed into law by Governor Inslee on May 9, 2023 and effective Jan. 1, 2024, new legislation allows certain interested parties to have access to information from the Washington Security Department, the state agency who administers the paid family and medical leave program, regarding an employee’s leave.
CMS COVID-19 Vaccination, Testing Requirements to Formally End This Summer
The Biden-Harris Administration announced on May 1, 2023, that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would soon be eliminating COVID-19 vaccination requirements for healthcare providers. On May 31, 2023, CMS issued the awaited Final Rule.
Minnesota Legislature Passes Significant Employee Leave Laws
Minnesota is now the 12th state to adopt a statewide program providing compensation to employees during family and medical leaves. It also joined the over 40 state and local jurisdictions mandating employer paid sick leave.
Voting and Sick Leave for Georgia Employees
A new Georgia law takes effect on July 1, 2023 (GA S 129) and provides employees time off to advance vote in primaries and elections. The Georgia legislature, with sign off from Governor Brian Kemp, also recently voted to repeal the sunset provision relating to use of sick leave for care of immediate family members.
DOL Pumps It Up With New Guidance on PUMP Act Enforcement
The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) published Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2023-02 providing guidance to agency officials responsible for enforcement of the “pump at work” provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) including those recently enacted under the 2022 PUMP Act.
Puerto Rico Five-Day Paid Leave for COVID-19 Ends
The governor of Puerto Rico has issued Executive Order No. OE-2023-012, ending the state of emergency declared in 2020 due to the pandemic caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and repealing multiple Executive Orders issued to adopt preventive measures because of COVID-19.
New Executive Order Relieves Federal Contractors From Safer Federal Workforce Requirements
As anticipated, President Joe Biden has rescinded the COVID-19 safety requirements for federal contractors in connection with the declared end of the COVID-19 public health emergency and the World Health Organization determination that COVID-19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
EEOC Revises its COVID-19 Guidance, Again
In response to the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration, the EEOC updated its COVID-19 technical assistance: “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws”.
Maryland Modifies, Delays Implementation of Its Paid Leave Program
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has signed an amendment (Senate Bill 828) modifying the 2022 law that established the state’s paid leave system, the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) Program.
Ending of Federally Mandated COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements and Public Health Emergency
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced that, at the end of the day on May 11, 2023, it will end COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal employees, federal contractors, and international air travelers. The COVID-19 public health emergency also will end on the same day.